Franklin CEO Timothy Rusnak said the process was transparent and not arbitrary, and that teachers understand the published pay scales are simply a starting point for negotiations. When asked about the factors that apply, he told reporter Jessica Williams: "It's need. It's talent. It's budget." He said he tried to bring lower-paid teachers up to scale over time.

English teacher Greg Swanson came to the school with nine years of experience but was paid as if he had four years of experience. In three years, he's negotiated his way up to the 11-year salary step. Teacher Stephen Pearce was brought up to scale -- he earned $16,000 under the published amount -- after submitting a formal dispute.

The teachers who want to unionize have additional issues, including the timing of contract renewals and the reasons for some terminations.